2376

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 421

CHAPTER 421

(House Bill 1162)

AN ACT concerning

Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties -
Moratorium on Floating Homes in County Waters

FOR the purpose of providing for a moratorium on the mooring,
docking, anchoring, or installing of floating homes in the
waters of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties;
defining certain terms; allowing a municipal corporation in
Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties to regulate or
restrict floating homes that are located in the planning and
zoning jurisdiction of the municipal corporation; providing
that this Act is an emergency measure; and generally
relating to zoning and planning regulations in Calvert,
Charles, and St. Mary's Counties and in the State.

BY adding to

Article 66B - Zoning and Planning

Section 9.04                                                                               

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 66B - Zoning and Planning

9.04.

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED:

(2)(I) "FLOATING HOME" MEANS ANY VESSEL THAT IS IN
FACT USED, DESIGNED, OR OCCUPIED AS A PERMANENT DWELLING UNIT,
BUSINESS OFFICE, OR FOR ANY PRIVATE OR SOCIAL CLUB OF WHATSOEVER
NATURE; AND

(II) "FLOATING HOME" INCLUDES A STRUCTURE THAT
IS CONSTRUCTED ON A BARGE WHICH IS PRIMARILY IMMOBILE AND OUT OF
NAVIGATION OR WHICH FUNCTIONS SUBSTANTIALLY AS A LAND STRUCTURE
WHILE THE FLOATING HOME IS MOORED, DOCKED, ANCHORED, OR INSTALLED
WITHIN THE WATERS OF CALVERT, CHARLES, OR ST. MARY'S COUNTY,
WHETHER THE FLOATING HOME IS SELF-PROPELLED OR NOT AND WHOSE
VOLUME COEFFICIENT IS GREATER THAN 3,000 SQUARE FEET, WHICH IS
THE RATIO OF THE HABITABLE SPACE OF A VESSEL THAT IS MEASURED IN
CUBIC FEET AND THE DRAFT OF A VESSEL MEASURED IN CUBIC FEET OF
DEPTH.